Colorado and Utah compared
Since 1996, NOAA recorded 46,704 storm events in Colorado and 11,468 in Utah; per 1,000 square miles that is 451 against 139. FEMA has declared 112 disasters in Colorado and 61 in Utah since 1953.
Side by side
| Measure | Colorado | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| FEMA declarations for natural disasters since 1953 | 109 | 59 |
| Of which major disasters | 24 | 15 |
| Tornadoes since 1950 (SPC) | 2,479 | 142 |
| Storm records since 1996 | 46,704 | 11,468 |
| Storm records per 1,000 sq mi | 451 | 139 |
| Storm deaths since 1996 | 319 | 257 |
| Storm deaths per million people | 55 | 79 |
| Storm damage since 1996, 2025 dollars | $13.7B | $1.5B |
| FEMA expected annual loss per person | $375 | $483 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1996 to 2026-06-30; FEMA OpenFEMA; FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025) for population and expected annual loss; land area from the Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer. Search the record at NCEI.
Hazard by hazard
| Hazard | Colorado records | Utah records | Colorado deaths | Utah deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 15,010 | 4,165 | 37 | 47 |
| Hail | 15,490 | 638 | 0 | 0 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 4,650 | 2,483 | 15 | 8 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4,370 | 1,200 | 13 | 20 |
| Drought | 3,044 | 1,019 | 0 | 0 |
| Floods | 1,956 | 1,399 | 47 | 49 |
| Extreme cold | 1,068 | 245 | 5 | 0 |
| Heavy rain | 792 | 133 | 2 | 0 |
| Wildfires | 668 | 141 | 15 | 11 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 576 | 191 | 128 | 81 |
| Lightning | 475 | 75 | 50 | 22 |
| Heat | 15 | 37 | 1 | 11 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; forecast-zone records count on every county the zone covers, once per state.